How to Get From Phong Nha to Hanoi

Hung Thanh is another bus operator for this route. However, we don’t recommend travelling with them because they get bad reviews. These include overloading, rude staff, and dirty buses. If you still want to travel with Hung Thanh, you can book a ticket through Phong Nha Locals.

From Phong Nha, you can take the local bus to Dong Hoi for just $2 (50,000 VND). Bus 4 departs from Phong Nha city centre every hour from 06:00 to 17:00. There’s a catch though, this bus stops at the Central Bus Station, located about 1 km from Dong Hoi Railway Station.

This means that from the bus drop-off point in Dong Hoi, you’ll still need to walk for about 15 minutes or take a short taxi ride to the train station.

If that is too much hassle for you, you can also take a direct taxi from your hotel in Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Railway Station. Rates start from $16 (400,000 VND) for the 1-hour taxi journey.

For a more detailed guide, do check out our page on Dong Hoi.

There are 4 to 5 trains operating daily from Phong Nha to Hanoi via Dong Hoi. Most of these trains travel from early evening to morning the next day. Travel time is around 10h 30m - 12h 30m.

This gives you plenty of time to go through your photos and maybe update your Instagram before enjoying a nice sleep at your train cabin. The sunrise in Hanoi will welcome you the next morning!

Rates for a 4-berth sleeper from Dong Hoi to Hanoi start from $17 (440,000 VND).

It’s best to confirm the train schedules and even book your tickets beforehand to make sure you don’t miss your desired train. You can do this via BookAway and Baolau.

Trains depart from Dong Hoi Railway Station and arrive at Hanoi Train Station, located 2 km southwest of the Old Quarter.

When travelling from Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Airport, you can take either a bus or a taxi for 1 hour.

The bus is quite convenient and affordable. Just catch Bus 4, which departs from the main road in Phong Nha and drops you off just outside the airport. A ticket costs only $2 (50,000 VND).

Bus 4 operates daily from 06:00 to 17:00 with an hourly interval. Note that it has no definite schedule and if you miss the bus for the hour, you’ll have to wait a while for the next bus.

If you’re short on time, you can also take a taxi from Phong Nha to Dong Hoi Airport. Rates start from $16 (400,000 VND) when you hail a taxi from the street. You can also pre-book your ride via BookAway for $23 (580,000 VND).

See our page on Dong Hoi for more info.

Direct flights are available daily from Dong Hoi to Hanoi. These are operated by Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways.

Airfares start from $30 (770,000 VND) when you book your tickets well in advance. We also recommend regularly checking Skyscanner for the cheapest rates, as you can sometimes book this route for as low as $26 (660,000 VND).

The flight time takes around 1 hour.

From Hanoi Airport, you can conveniently get to the city centre by taking Express Bus 86. A ticket costs only $1.80 (45,000 VND) and travel time is about 1 hour. Inform the driver beforehand where your hotel is located so he can drop you off at the nearest bus stop.

Express Bus 86 makes several drops near the Old Quarter before making its final stop at Hanoi Railway Station.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi from Hanoi Airport to the city centre with rates from $9 (230,000 VND).

Visit our page on Hanoi Airport for more transport options.

Where to travel next?

Hanoi to Sapa: 6-9 hours

Explore the rice fields in Sapa

Hanoi to CatBa: 3.5-4 hours

Enjoy the stunning views of the karst mountains

Hanoi to Ninh Binh: 2-3 hours

Paddle through the Tam Coc or Trang An river while passing karst mountains and rice fields

Hanoi to Hoi An: 3-17 hours

Enjoy the great atmosphere of Hoi An with a mixture of Japanese, Vietnamese and French influences